Banana-crate.



PATENTED MAR. 17, 1908.

- G. BECKER.

BANANA CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1907.

'1 9 9 /7 \Q 3 Swank-oi wmmw 8 [ms TAV B E EKE R atl'oznu o GUSTAV BECKER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA.

BANANA-CRATE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 17, 1908.

Application filed September 16, 1907. Serial No. 393,092.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAV BECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma, Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banana-Crates; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in banana crates.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong, durable and inexpensive crate by means of which bananas may be shipped without danger of breaking or bruising the same.

'With this object in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and. particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a banana crate constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the crate, which consists of corner pieces, 2, which are preferably formed of right-angularly disposed slats or laths, nailed or otherwise secured together as shown. The corner pieces 2, are connected together at their upper and lower ends by rectangularly shaped frames, 3 and midway the ends by frames 3.

Arranged within the crate is a tapered or funnel-shaped tube, 4, preferably formed of a heavy paper fabric. The upper end of the tube is secured at diametrically opposite points to the side pieces of the upper frame, 3. The paper tube is braced and held in position Within the crate by means of hoops, 5, which are preferably formed of wire rods and are connected together by longitudinally disposed wire rods, 6. The hoops 5 are secured to the corners of the frames, 3, by diagonally arranged brace rods, 7, which may, if desired, be formed of a continuation of the connecting rods, 6. The upper end of the tube is left long enough to be drawn together over the bunch of bananas and bound by one of .the Wires 7.

In the bottom or lower ends of the paper tube, 4, is arranged a ventilating screen, 8, which may be formed of any suitable open fabric or netting. The screen, 8, is preferably held in position in the end of the tube by means of fastening wires, 9, the outer ends of which are connected to the adjacent wire loop, 5, or to the wires, 6.

The bunch of bananas when arranged in the tube is preferably secured in place by means of a strong cord or wire which is fastened to the stem of the bunch and secured at its ends to the upper frame, 3, of the crate. \Vhcn the hunch is so secured, the crate may be packed in a horizontal position without danger of injuring the fruit.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. A banana crate comprising an open frame, a funnel-shaped fabric tube arranged in said crate, wire rods to secure and brace said tube in place in said frame, a ventilating screen arranged in the lower end of the tube,

and an integral. to p piece on the upper end of.

said tube adapted to be drawn together to form a closure for said upper end, and a tie formed by the extended upper end of one of said brace wires to fasten said closed upper end of the tube, substantially as described.

A banana crate comprising corner pieces, end frames adapted to connect the opposite ends of said corner pieces together, a funnel-shaped paper tube arranged in said crate and secured thereto at one end, hoops arranged around said tube, rods connecting the said hoops together, obliquely disposed fastening rods coi'mectcd to said hoops and to the frame at the opposite ends of the crate, a wire screen adapted to be arranged in one end of the tube, and fastening wires to secure said screen in place, substantially as. described.

In tcstimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. A. KENT, A. R. BAILEY. 

